Adult Skills Fund cuts: NATECLA’s response

Reacting to news that the Adult Skills Fund in England is set to be cut by a further 2-3% in 2025-26, NATECLA Co-Chairs Naeema Hann and Paul Sceeny said:

"At a time when the government is prioritising growth, skills and productivity, as well as talking up the need to counter the dangers of populism and disinformation, it’s extraordinary they would consider taking even more away from further, adult and community education.

“This is the polar opposite of what’s needed when adult education is reeling from a decade and a half of budget freezes and cuts. At a time when demand for English language learning has never been greater, adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision has borne the brunt of these cuts with enrolment numbers falling by more than a third in the years since 2010.

“The 2016 Casey Review highlighted the vital role ESOL plays in promoting social integration, with language proficiency enhancing employability, community cohesion and cultural engagement. Enabling people to learn and improve their English is not only transformative for individuals, the whole of society and the economy benefits.

“Instead of cutting adult education, the government should be prioritising ESOL and other aspects of learning that will widen opportunity and drive growth.”